//------------------------------// // Chapter 6: Recovery // Story: Hidden in Plain Sight // by ShadowGear //------------------------------// Sclerite heard the sound of a heart monitor. He slowly opened his eyes and noticed a white room. Did he die? Are these the first steps into Tartarus? Sclerite tried to get up but felt a sharp pain on his back. "Not again," he thought as he fell back into the bed. He noticed Rainbow Dash, Rarity and Applejack on the other end of his medical bed. "Hey Acid Base," Applejack said. "Ya had me worried there for a sec." "You know, you have a lot of guts facing a pack of Timberwolves on your own," Rainbow Dash stated. "Well thanks," Sclerite said, feeling honored. "Don't worry about a thing darling, I took care of everything. Including the medical bill," Rarity said. "You didn't have to-" "Nonsense! Any friend of Sweetie Belle is a friend of mine!" Sclerite was surprised. It was one thing to have friends personally take him to the hospital. It was another to have them pay for his recovery. It would be wrong for him to take her generosity without giving back. "I don't know what to say. If you need help with anything, I would be happy to do it for you," he offered. "Oh! Why don't worry about it darling." Rainbow Dash grinned. "You know... I got injured once in the hospital, and you know what I did in my free time?" Sclerite gave a questioning look as she slowly pulled out a book. The cover read "Daring Do and the Quest for the Sapphire Stone," by A.K. Yearling. "It's about adventure, excitement. I think you're gonna like it." Sclerite used his magic to take the book from Rainbow Dash and placed it on the nightstand next to the bed. "I'll read it later, anyway I don't believe I ever thanked you for saving my life." "Don't sweat it! Like I said, 'that's what friends are for,'" Rainbow Dash replied. "Anyway ah have to get back to the farm." "And I need to finish my next dress." "Alright then, see you later," Sclerite said while he watched Applejack and Rarity leave. Silence had befallen the room. Neither Rainbow Dash nor Sclerite could think of anything to say. Eventually it was too much for Sclerite, he had to break the silence somehow. "So... I heard there was a Changeling attack in Canterlot," Sclerite said playing into his fake backstory. "Oh yeah! It was awesome! There were Changelings everywhere! They thought they were going to beat us but they were pushovers!". "I guess I was lucky to have gotten out when I did. I wouldn't survive that battle," Sclerite said. "Nonsense! You stood up to a bunch of Timberwolves and lived. Sure things could've turned out better for you, but if you could stand up to Timberwolves, you could face anything." A pony came in wearing a hospital uniform. She had a red cross as a cutiemark and was carrying a clipboard. She had a nametag that read "Nurse Redheart." "Excuse me, do you mind if I speak to the patient alone?" Nurse Redheart asked. "Alright, see you later Acid Base, and remember to read that book. I'm going to practice my flying," Rainbow Dash said as she left. Nurse Redheart waited until they were alone before speaking. "You know you don't have to hide from me." Sclerite was a little surprised by those words. "What do you mean?" Nurse Redheart approached him and whispered into his ear. "I know you're a Changeling."